queenriver replied to your post: Question: can people recommend any...
what kinda stuff are you looking for? I’m not sure I can recommend resources per se but I spent my whole life doing the athlete thing so my trove of workouts is not inconsiderable.
Well, part of the problem is I don’t know enough to really define what I’m looking for? I’ve never really done fitness-for-the-sake-of-fitness as opposed to just activities that involve being physically active, but I’d like to start both on general principles and because I know exercise is good for anxiety/depression and my brain has been pretty bad of late (plus I am cosplaying a Strong Character this summer and I want to be able to lift all my friends.)
So ideally I’m looking for beginner-level things that I could do at home. I have access to the fancy University gym at the moment but we’ll only be here for a few more months and it’s filled with hordes of terrifyingly fit undergrads.
No matter how much the Doctor wishes, a lifetime ofbrainwashing cannot be eradicated overnight. He knows from previous encountersthat eventually River will overcome every deadly impulse Kovarian planted likea seed in her mind. She’ll have her bad days, of course, but she’ll prevail.She’ll be strong and resilient and totally in control. Brilliant.
When River is young, however, it doesn’t take much to sether off. From the look of her - slightly wild eyes, feral stance, clenched jaw- she’s still in her first year of University. Which means she’s irrational andquick to anger, with a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later.Unfortunately for his wide-eyed companion cowering under the aim of her pistol, River is very, very young at the moment.
“Now River,” he ventures, licking his lips nervously.
She twitches and he stops instantly, holding his breath.“Don’t you now River me, Doctor.” He winces at the barely contained ragethat makes her voice wobble. She doesn’t even blink, her gaze trained on hiscompanion. “She was in our bedroom -”
“I got lost!” His companion insists, and the Doctor wisheshe could tell her that speaking isn’t a very good idea right now. He’s ratherfond of her and he would prefer she didn’t lose an appendage. “I didn’t know-”
River cocks her head, eyes narrowing, and his companionfalls quiet. “You didn’t know what? That I would ever find out?”
Biting back a sigh, the Doctor takes a step toward her.“Dear, stop this. You’re not shooting my companion.”
She frowns, like a petulant child being told no. “I could.”
His mouth twitches but he stifles it, knowing his amusementwould only enrage her further. “But you won’t. Because you know she’s just acompanion. Human. A child, really.” He winks at her. “Tell me you know mebetter than that, Song.”
Her grip tightens around her pistol and she swallowsthickly. “Promise me no one sleeps in here but us.”
It would be easy to say it quickly, to scoff and say yes ofcourse. To dismiss her fears as those of a territorial psychopath rather thanan abandoned little girl who is never quite sure of what belongs to her becausenothing ever has before. His companion is still sprawled on the floor, gapingat them, but the Doctor keeps his attention fixed on River. He lifts a cautioushand and when she only watches him uncertainly, he touches her cheek. Thestroke of his fingertips over her skin sweeps away some of the madness and whenhis touch lingers, he sees clarity returning to her clouded eyes.
He smiles softly. “I promise.”
Her pistol drops to the floor with a clatter and before theDoctor can so much as breathe a sigh of relief, River is in his arms. Hands clenched tightin his hair and her mouth crashing against his, she holds him to her and kisseshim like she can brand him. She uses too much teeth and he can taste thepossessiveness on her tongue but he doesn’t fight her, flailing only a momentbefore he gives in and lets her take what she needs.
When she pulls away, she’s his River again. Flushed andbreathless, she licks her lips and smirks at him. “All right, sweetie. Ibelieve you.” She pats his bum, smile widening when he jumps. “Now, let’s gosomewhere exciting, shall we?” Without a backward glance, she strides from their bedroom andheads in the direction of the control room.
Still breathing hard, the Doctor stares after her andnibbles at the new cut on his lip from her teeth until he remembers hiscompanion still prostrate on the floor. His cheeks redden as he turns to look at the girl. “So,” he says, forcing a bright grin andstraightening his bowtie. “That was the wife. Told you she was fun.”
